332 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



very complete and exliuustivc manner. There are 51 species 

 and subspecies of laud-birds known to breed in the Bahamas, 

 to which may be added two species of water-birds restricted 

 to the group. These 56 birds are divisible into two cate- 

 gories, the first (32) being those of general distribution, and 

 the second (24) those peculiar to the Bahamas. After a 

 full consideration of these birds, especially of the latter class, 

 and of the sources whence they appear to have been derived, 

 Mr. Chapman shows that the Bahaman avifauna is compa- 

 ratively of recent origin, and has been mainly derived from 

 Cuba. ''The Bahamas," he says, " are largely AVest-Indian 

 in their affinities, and may claim the rank of a fauna of the 

 Antillean Begion {lege Subregion), characterized by the 

 presence of forms different from their West-Indian ancestry, 

 and by the infusion of a slight Floridan element. '' 



37. Chapman on the Tail-coverts q/'Colaptes auratus. 



[On tlie Color-Patteru of the Upper Tail-Coverts in Cohtptes auratus. 

 By Frank M. Chapman. JiuU. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. iii. p. 311.] 



Mr. Chapman calls attention to the wide range of variation 

 shown in the colour-pattern of the upper tail-coverts in 

 Colaptes auratus. Similar variations occur in the other 

 species of the genus, but a larger series of specimens is 

 required before this can be properly shown. Chrt/.wptilus 

 shows its relationship to Colaptes in having the tail-coverts 

 similarly barred, and corresponding variations appear to 

 occur in other genera. 



38. Chapman on Birds from Texas. 



[On the Birds observed near Corpus Christi, Texas, during part^ of 

 March and April 1891. By Frank M. Chapman. Bull. Amer. Mas. Nat. 

 Hist. iii. p. 315.] 



The present paper is designed to supplement one on the 

 same subject by the late Mr. Beckham, which appeared in 

 1887 (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 633). Beckham gave a 

 list of 139 species of birds to be met with near Corpus 

 Christi. ISlr. Chapman made notes and collections in the dis- 



